The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-05

U'lhlH'hli NHlch lh's pc'u tthucrcu w
hm."
Washington special
II is beginning 10 be quite generally adj
mittcd here in Washington that the trans
fer ol Postmaster General Villas 10 the in
terror department will take place as soon
ns Secretary lamar rctrcs. The friends
oi Gen. Villas, who have until recently
been disposed 10 dscrcdt the reported
transfer, nearly all now concedc that there
is very slroul probability Of itsoccurring.
One gentleman, who has exceptional close
relations with Gen Villas, admitted today
that there was great deal in the story.
This gentleman had recently been quoted
! In q printed interview as saying that there
| was no foundation for the current report.
That VAS his belief ut the timc hc made
| the statement quoted, but since then his
! inquiries into the matter have justified
! change ol opinion. As already stated, he
believes there is a great deal Ia the story.
| The fact is that Gen. Villas had at no
| time been dCsrous oi assuming the addi.
| tional responsibilities and burdens that
will be imposed upon him II he goes 10
| the head ul u new department When
! the iir-t announcement rraghCd the public
| that this transfer was under consideration
! by the President, Cen. Villas had, IL is un-
| dcrtood, decidedly aud ,mphatirally in
| dicatcd his unwlliugness to bc changed.
In the irt statement, printed in the Re-
| puhican's Washington special On August
~, IL was said regarding the opposition ot
Gru Villas and his friends "NotWiihsiand-
| ing this discoumEtmcnt offered hy tho
| trends oi Gen. Villas, the project seems to
/ have considerable Vitality
| The present information indicates quits
plainly that tho potent Vitality ~ tho
r,hcnc la, been suihylont 10 carry Il out
successfully What WIS said IN tho Ills.
patch of August ~ told the whole story In
/ tbcsc Worls "Ihc movement seems 10
] have H. origin in the recognition of tho
/ fart that Gen Villas Inns proved altogether
! the most efficient aud thorough alminis-
trliiyc official among the members of tho
Cabinet. The idea rs that such nm official
~ Gen. Villas could easily effect great
many important reforms la the interior de-
pnrtmcnt before the next campaign, and
would thus greatly strengthen the party at
| the next presidential election
Ihcrr ig nothing mur' tu say TODAY about
| the matter. The interior department
| greatly needs Just such u head as Gen.
| Villas would hc, aud II hcacccpts the trans
| ~ II viii b. simply because lac has Welded
! to the urgent inquest ul the President from
| 70 high scnst IT public duty aud not for tho
| qualification oi personal ambition.
n hnF bccDmc ~ plain that Il j. almost
| rcrinin Postmaster General Villas will sue
/ ccpd Secretary Lamar ~ Secretary II tho
| Interior that thcrr h increasing interest
manifested In rrrlm to Who viii be- tho
/ new Postmaster General \ part of tho
/ a'hcmr involving the trinsirr OF Gen.
\ills was the promotion oi the prcsenl
Hr,t assistant Postmaster General, Mr.. A..
D. stevenson. aud the general belief IL
that this will hr done. Gen. Stevenson is
thoroughly informed ~ a. the policy II
the President In respect 10 puslal af-
hiuj. and N fully acquainted
with the excellent system which
Gen Nius has ~ successfully introduced
IN the management of that great dcpari-
mcnt His experience M the official Of
! the department, next 10 that uf the Post
master General has, therefore. given him
exceptional qualifications to iill the post Of
chief ui the department. Ia addition 10
this, hc is one ol ilic most popular officials
| IN the present administration, aud has an
| immense official backing to support him
| iuf appointment tp the vacancy whenever
| Zen. Villas b. changed TO the interior de-
p1rtmcnt. Tor thcsn urasons the
/ general opinion still IL that ho will
go Ia the head 'oi the department
~ matter Ol course, whenever tho
/ change h made. There has bccn, how
ever. some disposition ON the part Of somo
! southern Democrats Ia complain iiint tho
! southern States would not loo fairly
Represented In the Cabinet II the vacancy
caused hy the retirement of SECRETARY
Lamar should bc hllcd 10y the nppOintmcnt
of Cabinet officer from the west. They
ar unwilling Ia count Secretary Bayard
anl Attorney General Garland ~ quito
filling the Cabinet quota to which tho
southern States nrc entitled. Tho outgrowth
of this talk has been the sugecslionof Con-
! gresham Blount chairman OF The House
/ committee on pustoics and post roads In
| the last Congress, fur appointment M Post
mnstrr General Gen. lllount has made
| splendid record IN Congress, is all right
ON every question Ia which the party Ia
concerned, and, by reason II his commit
| tee work, comprhrnsiycly informed about
postal ailaiu. Ills appointments II ID
| should be- made. would have ono conso-
qucnrc Of great interest TO Missouri, a. 10
would naturally rsutin making Congress-
man nUckcry chairman OF the House cons
| t,ittls an traiDflirpa and pust ruada "A In